I came across this church while looking at a map of Llandidrod Wells, it was off the beaten track so to speak and looked to be in the middle of know where as there seemed to be no houses nearby. I checked it out on Geograph to see if any one had good a photo of the church and was pleased to see there was and as I suspected it was sat isolated on the side of a hill quite away from the nearest road.
One Saturday I ventured out to visit the church which dates back to the 13th century but was extensively restored in the 19th century after the vicar of Llandidrod Wells had the roof removed to try to encourage the parishioners to attend the new church that had been built in town. It was unsuccessful and the church was restored in 1895. I have revisited in 2024 to update the photos so there are a mixture of older and new photos
On the way down hill St Michael Cefnllys can be seen on the left of the hill
Remember I said it was isolated, well you can just make the church out to the left
Seems there are two paths, one runs to the right of me and brings you in the back the other straight ahead to another gate, sheep just watch you go by
St Michael s Church from the south side of the churchyard
Going round the north side
North east view
East end of the church
South east view
The bell tower and porch
which has to large tomb slabs attached to the wall
One of the tomb slab or memorials on the porch wall
Inside the porch
Headstone of Thomas Probert
Updated photo taken in 2024, there are no electric lights in the church
This is using the gorillapod on the floor as when I took it I had forgotten my tripod
This one is taken using the flash on my camera
The rood screen which I could not say how old it is but there is a photo of the church with no roof showing the screen in place
2024 I used a better camera with no tripod
Using an iphone as I came in the church
The church has changed little
The rood screen and pulpit
Center part with rood cross
Pulpit which stands on a stone plinth and looks very nicely carved. I had a good look around and got excited at what I found
This time I had a closer look at the pulpit, the bottom left I noticed when I got home has a date on it of 1661 which was inside the pulpit, my excuse for not getting a better photo of the area is because it was quite dark and i did not see what was on the wood panel at the time
That sort of corresponds with what I noticed on the side of the pulpit the date there shows what looks like 166 0 TI, the initials of the maker perhaps. I suspect the screen is about the same age
Looking down from the pulpit
The altar back in 2014
2024 photo of the altar shows
The kneeler is leaning against the altar in 2014 and there is no altar cross
Looking over to the left an one of the windows
Ground level view of the clerks desk
One of the memorials you have to look for near the organ
Collage of the various memorials around the church
2024 view of the clerks desk
Rood screen and cross
fret work on the screen
Old photos taken when they restored the church
The church organ which is small and hides a few memorials
In 2024 the doors were in place so the view of the pipes was gone
Memorial above the old doorway at the back
Roof space
The oak rood cross was made and presented by S Edwards Temple Bazaar in December 1985, it was made from the wood taken from the old church
Chair by the altar
The other had this recess
That held the Holy Bible, now I always have a look at them to see how old they are and if a date and inscription is there, this one I found was in Welsh
and was quite beautiful inside with illustrations to see
Took this shot in 2014
2024 still glowing
This Paining was still there which was nice to see
The kneelers in 2014
This time I took photos of a lot of them
and made a collage
Lectern cloth
The church from by the organ
The pulpit which is as old as the church itself
Back in the churchyard there are many old graves
Family plot
Some are tombs under a yew tree which have become covered in green algae
Old but still readable
You can see others with a covering of lichen but considering the position the churchyard is well kept and not overgrown like some
2024 someone had cleaned the inscription on the cross
You were able to read what it said
I liked how this one has colored over the years
Headstones, one more recent
2024 view of the churchyard
I will take my leave with this floral display
Till next time may I wish you all a pleasant week
4 comments:
Bill, Another wonderful post this week, so lovely. I find the floor tiles interesting. Tom The Backroads Traveller
i love the little cap - almost like a hat. what a great location. such character. ( :
There is such a mystery that envelopes such old and isolated churches. Plus is has the old graveyard which brings even more mystic to the place. This is great place. The interior is one that is most impressive. As for a house of worship, one doesn't need extravagant decor and comfort.
What a visual treat for us Bill.. both St. Michael's here and St. David's last post. It's wonderful to see all the detail shots you take. So interesting to see the ceiling here in St. Michael's is the same style as the shots I took in St. John's in Fremantle. I love everything about these ancient simple churches especially the way the arched windows are set into the thick stone walls, churches back then were, obviously, built to last for a very long time :)
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